Im wanting to use a dial indicator to measure the C/L, runout of my bellhousing. For obvious reasons a magnetic base wont work. Is there a special fixture available for holding the dial indicator?

 

You can use the mag fixture. You attach to the flywheel & the pointer goes on the edge of the trans hole. Spin the engine by hand & watch for runout.

 

the problem I had with the mag. base was that it moved ever so slightly while I was measuring. My end reading wasnt the same as my start. Even using the alt. pulley to turn the engine over very slowly wasnt enough. The stick/slip of the piston rings was enough to cause it to move.

 

Ill probably end up welding a steel rod to an old flexplate to get an immovable reference. Would be nice if they made something for a nominal ammount, though.

 

I made a custom fixture once to check valve lift on a diesel that had no place for a magnetic base. Instead of using a magnetic base I made an attachment for the dial gauge to screw into a rocker cover bolt hole. A 1/2" rod with a 1/4" bolt welded onto the end of it. I used a jam nut on the 1/4" bolt to hold it tight.

Could a similar device be fabricated to check the runout on the bellhousing?

 

i ithnk stephen is on the right track, if a mag base doesn't work weld up some bolts or all thread to hold the indicator. i still have several home made indicator fixtures from my karting days.

 

Run some all thread into one of the flywheel bolt holes & attach the dial indicator to that.

 

Im in the middle of swapping over to a tko as well

I could have swore I saw something to do this, oh well. I guess Ill either weld a rod to the flexplate, which is already still attached, or just weld the rod to a bolt. Thanks for the input.

 

I am still waiting for the TKO & the clutch parts to come in. The Tremec dealer I ordered through showed me the dial indicator he used to do the runout check & it had a standard magnetic base. Of course his shop works primarily on Mustangs.